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I've been using CrOx for refreshing, usually 10 laps, then strop. Now I like to try a diamond spray. I have .5 micron spray on felt. As a rule of thumb would I do the same number of laps as I do with CrOx? Also would it be advisable to do CrOx followed by the diamond spray, then strop. Or am I better off doing either CrOx or the diamond separately and not together as a part of one refresh?
I follow Lynn's instructions and go 7 laps on the diamond felt...then strop. I do not use the crox in the same session b/c my crox is the same .5 micron and would be redundant. Results are right on and the shaves great.
MarkG,
The 0.5 micron diamond cuts very quickly indeed, so take it easy and follow txShooter38's advice. Light/no pressure :)
(I use 0.5 micron diamond on hard leather to finish my 'super-steel' knives, and it cuts those quickly as well !!)
Other shavers here on SRP have reported that they sometimes use 0.5 micron CrOx after the diamond - please experiment and see which you prefer :)
Have fun :)
Best regards
Russ
On a typical hollow ground razor I do 10 laps, wedges a few more.
Were I to have your set-up, i would go up/down, up/down on the diamond - then up/down about four times on the CrOx as needed.
I find the CrOx smooths things out.
Less is more!!
I do about 15 on balsa with 0.25 diamond after a finishing stone and have looked at the edges before and after under my microscope. The difference is subtle but it is there. I think it gets rid of any micro-burrs and smooths out the edge ever so slightly. I don't like to use abrasives on strops but to each his own....
-john
Didn't mention but I use a SRD modular paddle strop with the hard felt.
They are two different pastes for two different applications. Even though the grit size is the same, the results are completely different, it is the shape of the grit that makes it aggressive.
While you can get a bit of keenness from Chrome Oxide, most benefit is in polishing/smoothing the edge for comfort.
Diamond will sharpen and leave a more aggressive edge. Your face and the grit of Diamond spray will tell you if it is too aggressive a grit or too many laps.
.25 Diamond is a good grit for refreshing, to start with.
A good quality Chrome Oxide (SRD stick, Hand America liquid or Kremer powder) will smooth out any well-honed edge. Make sure you are using a pure Chromium Oxide that has been proven to work well on razors.
The number of laps depends on the quality of the honed edge, (finished grit and ability of the honer) and the stropper’s technique. Diamond will not remove chips or rolled edges, except possibly low grits and many, many laps.
As much as paste can revive and or smooth an edge, it can also wipe an edge and make it un-shaveable. It is not the paste that does this, it’s the driver.
Your stropping substrate is also a factor, fabric and felt are less aggressive than wood and leather, linen and canvas. Paddles are more aggressive than hanging… here YMMV, as technique and pressure play a BIG part.
You can do 20-50 laps on Chrome Oxide with no ill effect, do that with Diamond especially .50 and your face may be raw.
Start with Chrome Oxide and if you need more sharpness, 5-10 laps on .25 Diamond. Test shave and if too harsh, do some Chrome Ox laps. Using .50 Diamond do 4-6 laps and test, results will vary depending on edge condition prior to the paste. Make sure to clean the blade after each pasted strop or you will contaminate the next strop you use.
Paste stropping to get a newly honed edge comfortable is different than stropping for maintenance in the number of laps and the grit of paste. Once you get an edge where you like it stropping 10-15 laps on Chrome Oxide, once a week and stropping on linen and leather can keep you shaving very comfortably for a long time.
It is an individual’s experiment.
Your face is the “Decider”.
An excellent post that you might want to save and re-read.Quote:
Originally Posted by Euclid440
My only add would be to err on the side of less (strokes, pressure) and pause to test shave.
With all of the variables this is very much a YMMV.
It does help a great deal to keep notes of what you do.
Smooth Shaving...